Government Contracting Glossary

Acronyms & Key Terms

Still have questions about government contracting terms?
Our experts are here to help you navigate the process with confidence.

ACO (Administrative Contracting Officer)

Manages contract administration activities after contract award, including modifications, compliance, and closeout.

BAA (Broad Agency Announcement)

A notice used to solicit proposals for research and development (R&D) based on an agency’s areas of interest rather than a specific requirement.

BPA (Blanket Purchase Agreement)

A simplified acquisition method used to meet recurring needs through pre-negotiated terms with approved vendors.

CAGE Code (Commercial and Government Entity Code)

A unique identifier assigned to companies doing business with the U.S. federal government.

COR / COTR (Contracting Officer’s Representative / Technical Representative)

A designated government official responsible for monitoring technical performance and contract compliance.

CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement)

A legal agreement between a government laboratory and a business or academic institution to collaborate on R&D while sharing resources and intellectual property.

DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement)

Department of Defense–specific regulations that supplement the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)

The primary set of rules governing how the U.S. federal government acquires goods and services.

FFP (Firm Fixed Price)

A contract type with a set price that places the highest level of cost and performance risk on the contractor.

Full and Open Competition

A competitive acquisition approach that allows all responsible sources, including large businesses, to compete for a contract.

GovCon (Government Contracting)

The overall process of selling products or services to federal, state, or local government agencies.

IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity)

A contract vehicle that allows the government to order an unspecified quantity of supplies or services over a defined period.

NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)

Industry codes used to classify businesses and determine small business size standards.

OTA (Other Transaction Agreement)

A special agreement used by certain agencies for R&D or prototype projects that is not a traditional contract, grant, or cooperative agreement.

PCO (Procuring Contracting Officer)

The contracting officer with authority to solicit, negotiate, and award government contracts.

Pre-Solicitation Notice

An advance notice announcing an upcoming opportunity to gauge contractor interest and capability before release.

Prime Contractor / Subcontractor

The prime contractor holds the direct contract with the government; subcontractors support the prime contractor.

RFI (Request for Information)

A market research tool used to gather information on pricing, capabilities, or availability. Responses are not binding offers.

RFP (Request for Proposal)

A solicitation used in negotiated acquisitions that requests detailed technical and pricing proposals from vendors.

RFQ (Request for Quotation)

A solicitation requesting pricing and delivery information, typically for commercial products or services with well-defined requirements.

SAM (System for Award Management)

The central U.S. government system for contractor registration, entity validation, and award eligibility.

SBA (Small Business Administration)

The federal agency responsible for establishing small business size standards and administering small business programs.

Set-Aside (Small Business Set-Aside)

An acquisition reserved exclusively for small business concerns, sometimes limited to specific socioeconomic categories.

Solicitation

An official government request for bids, proposals, or quotations (e.g., RFP, RFQ, IFB).

Sources Sought Notice

A market research notice used to identify potential vendors—especially small businesses—to help determine acquisition strategy. Not a solicitation.

Special Notice

A notice used to share information such as Industry Days, events, or updates related to an opportunity.

SOW (Statement of Work)

A document that defines the technical requirements, tasks, deliverables, and performance standards of a contract.

TAA (Trade Agreements Act)

Requires certain products sold to the U.S. government to be manufactured in the U.S. or in designated trade-compliant countries.

T&M (Time and Materials)

A contract type that pays for labor hours at fixed rates plus the cost of materials.